The Joy of Missions

I have had the opportunity to go on medical mission trips in the past. I must say that these trips are extremely rewarding for me. There are many people who have truly committed their lives to providing mission opportunities. It is an honor to work beside the organizers and medical professionals who make these trips part of their routines.

But more than that, seeing the people who need help, and are grateful for whatever you can give. The need is incredible in other parts of the world. Did you know that most of the world’s functional blindness could be “cured” with a pair of glasses, but there is no way to get them? I always enjoy these opportunities and hope to have another soon.

Do You Know How Well Your Child Sees?

You may have been told that your child has 20/20 vision after a vision screening at school or pediatrician's office, but did you know that they can still have a vision problem? Eighty percent of learning is achieved visually and 1 in 4 school age children has some form of vision problem that can hinder academic performance. In fact, most children that are living with an undiagnosed vision problem will not complain because they don't know what "normal" vision is supposed to look like.

When should my child have an eye exam? The American Optometric Association recommends that a child have his or her first eye exam between 6 months and one year of age and then again at the age of three. When school begins, eye exams should be conducted every year to maintain proper eye health and development.

Are Cataracts slowing you down?

Did you know that nearly 5.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from cataracts that interfere with their vision? A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye that tends to 'grow' gradually, so changes in vision may not be noticeable at first.

The term "age-related" is usually paired with cataracts, which is a little misleading. You don't have to be a senior citizen to get cataracts. A cataract can affect anyone no matter age, race, or gender. They may have several causes, which include:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Eye Injuries
• Medication

Cataract surgery is the most common form of surgery in the United States. However, in the early stages of cataracts they can be managed by wearing sunglasses with UV protection. As the cataract advances it may affect the quality of your life. When this occurs it is time to consider surgery.

Your eye sight is precious. Early detection and treatment of any eye disease or impairment is important. We recommend yearly eye exams to insure preservation of your vision. To find out if you or someone in your family has cataracts schedule an exam today.